LOCATION ALGONQUIN MI

Established Series
Rev. DSJ-TEW-MLK
08/2012

ALGONQUIN SERIES

The Algonquin series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in silty and clayey lacustrine deposits on lake plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 762 mm (30 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 6.7 degrees C (44 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, semiactive, frigid Aquic Hapludalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Algonquin silt loam, on a southwest-facing, 1 percent slope in a hay field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 18 cm (7 inches); dark brown (10YR 3/3) silt loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; weak very thick platy structure parting to moderate fine angular blocky; friable; many very fine and common fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; few fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. [15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches) thick]

Bt1--18 to 28 cm (7 to 11 inches); reddish brown (5YR 4/4) silty clay; strong very coarse prismatic structure parting to strong fine angular blocky; firm; many very fine and common fine roots; many very fine and common medium discontinuous tubular pores; many prominent brown (7.5YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organic coatings on vertical faces of peds; thin patchy pale brown (10YR 6/3) silt coatings on faces of peds; common fine prominent gray (10YR 6/1) iron depletions; common fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.

Bt2--28 to 36 cm (11 to 14 inches); reddish brown (5YR 5/3) silty clay loam; strong very coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; firm; few very fine roots; common prominent brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organic coatings on vertical faces of peds; many medium prominent reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; many medium distinct gray (5YR 6/1) iron depletions; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary.

Bt3--36 to 74 cm (14 to 29 inches); light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) silty clay; strong very coarse prismatic structure parting to strong thick platy; firm; common prominent brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organic coatings 1 mm thick on vertical faces of peds; common white (10YR 8/1) lime or carbonate coatings on faces of peds; many medium prominent reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; many medium prominent greenish gray (5GY 6/1) iron depletions; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 33 to 76 cm (13 to 30 inches).]

BC--74 to 152 cm (29 to 60 inches); light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) silty clay loam; moderate thick platy structure parting to moderate fine angular blocky; firm; common white (10YR 8/1) lime or carbonate coatings on faces of peds; many medium prominent reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; many medium prominent greenish gray (5GY 6/1) iron depletions; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Alcona County, Michigan; about 3 miles north of the village of Mikado; 1,320 feet south and 150 feet east of the northwest corner of sec. 24, T. 26 N., R. 8 E; USGS Lincoln, MI topographic quadrangle; lat. 44 degrees 38 minutes 17.49 seconds N. and long. 83 degrees 25 minutes 21.59 seconds W., NAD 27.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to redox depletions and aquic conditions: 18 to 51 cm (7 to 20 inches)
Depth to carbonates: 28 to 38 cm (11 to 15 inches)
Rock fragment content: 0 to 3 percent
Mean annual soil temperature: 7.2 to 8.3 degrees C (45 to 47 degrees F)

Ap horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 2 to 4
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: silt loam, clay, or loam
Reaction: moderately acid to moderately alkaline

Undisturbed areas have A horizon.

E horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR
Value: 6 or 7
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: silt loam

Bt1 and Bt2 horizons:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 3 to 5
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: silty clay, clay, or silty clay loam
Clay content: 35 to 60 percent
Content of fine and coarser sand: 5 to 15 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline

Bt3 horizon, where present:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: silty clay, clay, or silty clay loam, or is stratified with these textures
Clay content: 35 to 60 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

BC or C horizon:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: clay, silty clay loam, or silty clay, or it is stratified with these textures
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

Till substratum phases are recognized.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in the same family.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Algonquin soils are on lake plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. These soils formed in silty and clayey lacustrine deposits. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 686 to 813 mm (27 to 32 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 6.1 or 7.2 degrees C (43 to 45 degrees F). Frost-free period is 90 to 140 days. Elevation is 183 to 396 meters (600 to 1,300 feet) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Negwegon and Springport soils. The moderately well drained Negwegon and poorly drained Springport soils are in a drainage sequence with Algonquin soils. Negwegon soils do not have redox depletions and occur on higher positions on the landscape. Springport soils have a mollic epipedon, do not have an argillic horizon, and occur on lower positions on the landscape.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Depth to the top of a perched seasonal high water table ranges from 15 to 46 cm (0.5 to 1.5 feet) from October through May in normal years. The potential for surface runoff is high or very high. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is low. Permeability is very slow.

USE AND VEGETATION: A large part is used for growing hay; minor crops are corn and small grains. Other areas are used as pastureland and forest. Common natural vegetation includes quaking aspen, balsam poplar, paper birch, black ash, red maple, balsam fir, and northern white cedar.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 94A and 96 in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Alcona County, Michigan, 1993.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and other features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 18 cm (7 inches) (Ap horizon).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 18 to 74 cm (7 to 29 inches) (Bt1, Bt2 and Bt3 horizons).
Aquic conditions: iron depletions with chroma of 2 or less present in all horizons below a depth of 18 cm (7 inches).

ADDITIONAL DATA: For laboratory data of representative pedon see 89MI001-006, Michigan Technological University. Soil Interpretation Record: MI0534.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.